Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
He runs his hand up and down my back. “You look incredible, but this outfit isn’t very practical for the weather.”
“The plan was thirst trap, not practicality.”
“You definitely hit the mark. Everything about you is sexy.”
The valet pulls up with Hollis’s blue sports car. He opens the door for me and holds my hand while I climb into the passenger seat. My knees go weak as I’m immersed in the scent of his cologne. After he settles behind the wheel, he turns on the seat warmers and reaches behind him to retrieve one of his hoodies for me.
“Oh, thank God.” I shove my arms through the warm, soft fabric that also smells like him.
“Do you want to go back to one of our places, or would you like to grab a bite to eat?”
Having this conversation in public will make it a lot harder to end up in bed with him. I could also use some carbs to soak up the tequila. “Food would be good.”
“Are you in the mood for anything specific?”
“No, wherever is fine. Maybe just not the diner.” It has too many conflicting memories.
“Okay.”
It’s late, so we end up at a chain restaurant about a fifteen-minute drive from home. The host’s eyes bulge as we walk in. He’s wearing a name tag that reads Scott. “Hollis Hendrix?”
Hollis gives him a friendly smile. “That’s me. I’d appreciate if you didn’t announce it too loudly, though.” He glances around the semi-full restaurant.
We’re a little outside the club district, but close to one of the local colleges. In hindsight, this might not have been the best location.
“Yes, sir,” he whispers. “It’s an honor to have you here. I hope you’re able to get back in the game for playoffs.”
“Thanks. If you could seat us somewhere private, that would be great,” Hollis says, still wearing his professional smile.
“Of course.” Scott grabs two menus and motions for us to follow him.
He seats us at a booth in the back corner and rushes off, telling us our server will be right with us. She appears a second later. Pearl is in her sixties, and she doesn’t so much as bat an eyelash at Hollis. We both order coffee and water, and I opt for the bananas foster crepes because I need comfort food while Hollis gets the all-day breakfast.
I’m so nervous. I squeeze my fingers together in my lap, waiting to hear what he has to say.
His voice is raw with emotion, and when he straightens, I see anguish in his eyes. “I’m fucking lost without you.”
He’s so sad and beautiful. My fingers twitch with the desire to touch him. To slide into the booth next to him and let him wrap me in his arms and forget everything that’s happened since the gala. But I can’t just hand him back my heart after he discarded it. He has to make me believe he wants it. “Then how could you let me go so easily?”
“Because I’m an idiot. A scared idiot. And a lot of other things. But those two top the list.” He rubs his bottom lip. “I don’t know if I can fix this, but I am going to try, and I’m not giving up without a fight.”
Those are the right words. My heart sings, but then stutters. I’m scared to trust him. I hate that my brain goes to my dad right now, but I think he’s right. Without action, Hollis’s words don’t have much meaning. I search for what to say as my heart moves to my throat. “Do you want to talk about the interview?”
He blows out a breath. “That was not the ideal way for you to hear those words from me for the first time, but I meant them.” Hollis puts his hand palm up on the table, his expression hopeful.
I settle my hand into his and immediately feel more at ease. “Tell me something real and true,” I whisper.
“I’m so fucking in love with you, Aurora. Hopelessly, stupidly, irrationally in love with you.”
“And yet, you still walked away from me.”
“I let fear stand in my way,” he says softly. “But I won’t let that happen again, if you give me another chance.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“That I was an infatuation for you. That whatever your feelings were, they could change. That they would.”
“Because of what happened with Scarlet?” I ask.
He nods. “I thought I was protecting you and your relationship with Roman, but it was my heart I was trying to safeguard. I stood in my own way. You’re such a bright star, and I didn’t want to hold you back.”
“How would that happen?”
“The world is yours, Aurora. Whatever you want, you just have to reach out and take it. I’ve already hit my peak in my career, and you’re just starting.” His thumb sweeps across my knuckles, as if the contact grounds him. “I guess I convinced myself that you could, should do better than me, and eventually you would see that.”